Sour Cream & Chive Cauli-tatoes

Do you miss a scoop of mashed potatoes (cream potatoes in my house)on your plate?  Well, this recipe makes a great substitute and adds some veggies to your diet too!  So instead of making cream "potatoes", I decided to make creamed cauliflower.  I know, I know, it does not "sound" as good, but you have got to give this a try.  This was a total success here!  I could not stop eating it!  Trust me!

Ingredients:

• Two heads of cauliflower
• 2-4 Tbsp. butter (Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter/Grassfed is what I used)
• 1/2 cup Coconut Milk Sour Cream or 1/2 a recipe (see recipe below)
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. chives
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Wash and steam cauliflower until extremely tender.  While cauliflower is still warm (this is key to making it smooth), blend (I used my Ninja) all ingredients until smooth and seasoning, butter and coconut milk sour cream are all distributed throughout.  Begin with the smaller amount of butter and add more as needed.  Same with the salt and pepper.  Some may like more garlic or even more chives.  Make it your own.

Coconut Milk Sour Cream:

• 1 can of Thai Kitchen brand coconut milk (TRUST ME, USE THIS BRAND)
• 1 to 1 1/2 Tbsp. lemon juice
• Pinch or two of sea salt (1/8 tsp.)

There is a great visual tutorial on how to this sour cream here!
http://blog.stuffimakemyhusband.com/2012/10/fish-taco-bowl.html

I found an easy recipe for dairy-free sour cream . First, take a can of Thai Kitchen coconut milk (full fat) and let it sit in the fridge for overnight or longer . I buy the Thai brand just for this recipe and thus I store them in the fridge so they are ready when I need them.  This DOES NOT work with all brands, but it definitely works with Thai Kitchen.  You can use one of the mini 5.5 oz cans for this recipe, but then you won't have leftovers for your next meal (like fajitas, etc.).  Take can out of fridge, flip it upside down and use a can opener to remove the bottom of the can. This will reveal a watery liquid that has separated from the solid coconut cream.  Pour off the liquidy layer and discard.
Spoon out the solid coconut cream into a bowl, add 1 tsp lemon juice and a large pinch (about 1/8 tsp salt) to the coconut cream and stir thoroughly.  You may do a little taste here and there to see if you would like more lemon juice or salt.  Enjoy!!

Paleo Jambo Soup

Have you gone Paleo and totally miss your big bowl of gumbo and the awesome cajun spice of a plate of jambalaya?  Well, here is the solution!  JAMBO!!!  This soup will give you the warm texture of a bowl of hot gumbo and the spice of a real cajun jambalaya. 

Sherri's Paleo Jambo

This was a post inspired by a pin on Pinterest.  I don't know about you, but when I cook things like gumbo or soup, I want enough to freeze after.  So I took the recipe from
AndreAnna at Life As a Plate as inspiration, changed a lot, tossed in a little cajun flare, and added tons of meat so that you will not even notice that the rice is missing!!

Ingredients

• 1 to 2 tbsp. Olive Oil
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups of the trinity (Tanya added diced celery)
• 4 bell peppers (red, green, yellow, orange) – any color, chopped
• 1 large can of rotel tomatoes w/liquid (Tanya used organic diced tomatoes)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can of tomato sauce or puree
• 5 to 7 cups bone broth or chicken broth (depending on thickness you want)
• 2-4 bay leafs
• 4 cups of cooked chicken (I used the meat from two rotisserie chickens)(Tanya used one pound of sauted chicken thighs, diced)
• 1 to 2 lb. of smoked sausage (Tanya only used one package of Andouille and omitted)
• 1 pkg spicy Andouille
• 2 lb large shrimp, raw and de-veined.(Tanya used one pound large shrimp)
• l bag of frozen okra (COOKED-see below how to cook before putting in soup)(Tanya added her okra straight from the bag 'cause she doesn't mind slimey!)
• 4 tbsp Cajun Seasoning* (see below for Emeril's mix)
• Hot sauce or peppers to taste (Tanya used Tobasco smoked chipotle sauce, and  one whole fresh tobasco pepper removed before serving). 

Cooking Your Okra (No slime in your soup/Sherri can't do slime!)

• Place frozen okra in micro safe bowl and cover with lid.
• Cook on high for 20 minutes
• Let cool a little and mash all okra with fork
• Add to soup

How to Make Your Own Cajun Seasoning (from Emeril):

• 2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme
• (Yields about 2/3 c.)

Directions:

1. Saute' your onions/trinity in olive oil until softened (About 3 to 4 mins).
2. Add you bell peppers and continue to saute
3. Add you can of rotel with juice, saute' about a min or so
4. Add garlic, tomato sauce/puree and let combine.
5. Add 5 cups bone broth or chicken broth
6. Add bay leaves, hot sauce, and cajun seasoning
7. I tossed all of my sausage and chicken into the roasting pan (all this meat will not fit in the pot)
8. I then poured the mix above (from pot)over the meat into roasting pan
9. Added my cooked okra
10. Stir and let cook a few hours to get rid of the uncooked tomato taste.
11. When done, add shrimp and cook for another 5 minutes or until shrimp are pink.  DON'T OVER COOK SHRIMP!
12. Check you season to see if it is to your liking!  Enjoy!

    

    Tanya's Paleo Jambo: Hubby Even Went Back for Seconds! Score!

 Take note, a gumbo itself can be made in many ways. This in not a real gumbo, because it was not made with a traditional roux. It is not jambalaya because it does not contain rice. However, the blending of flavors here are very much like those found in both of these recipes. And much like a gumbo has many different variations, so can this recipe. So use our recipe as your guide and make it your own with Paleo friendly ingredients! Further, it is hearty enough to eat on it's own, but can be served over cauliflower rice or regular rice for your non-Paleo peeps. Enjoy!

A NOTE FROM SHERRI:

Our soups look totally different!  My soup (top photo) has a thicker base.  Most likely because I mashed my okra and made it a little less noticeable (my men will pick it out if they can see it).  Both versions are great!  Make it your own and enjoy!

Tanya: Post Celebration Day

I think it is worthy of noting how I felt yesterday after a small diversion in my eating plan.

Friday was my last day of work at my "old" job. To celebrate, my fabulous co-workers took me out to eat at a Paleo friendly restaurant, Santa Fe. My lovely coach, Sherri advised me to have the petite filet, broccoli and plain baked sweet potato. I did, and they were all very tasty, however, I was suspicious that there was nothing added to my food, but if there was, it wasn't obvious. I also went out to eat at Texas de Brazil for a belated birthday dinner, reflection of an ending and celebration of new beginnings for me. Anyone who has never been must go! They have the most amazing salad bar, as well as the famous non-stop meat fest that everyone knows about. On this evening, I consciously diverted from my plan, and had a large glass of red wine, the baked banana palate cleanser that I suspect was inclusive of butter and some sugar, and I had one small bite of whipped garlic potatoes. I am sure that none of the steak that I had Friday was grass fed, the vegetables were most likely NOT organic and that the wine was just plain old amazingly good!

So what did that do to the way I felt the next day? Well, in a word, I was EXHAUSTED. I woke up at my usual time, but by 11 am I was clamoring for a nap, and I slept for 2 hours. I was tired again after that and when my toddler wanted a nap at 5 o'clock before dinner, I indulged her, and we both fell asleep for another hour. I didn't really notice anything but HOW TIRED I WAS. I doubt this is purely coincidental.

Was it the non-optimal beef and veggies? the butter? the small amount of sugar? the wine? 

I don't really know. I didn't over indulge in anything, so I can't be sure. But I am sure that there was a change in my level of energy compared to every day since I have started, and today. While today I feel like, I "could" nap, yesterday was I "must" nap! Interesting I say, very interesting.

So, I was back on the wagon yesterday and today and have every intention of staying the course. In fact, I just made my next orders for meat and snacks/cereals. I am ready to ride out the rest of my 30 days now!

Why don't you jump on board too?

Tanya: Wellness Comes in Many Forms

Sherri and I thought about what to name this blog when we started it. We didn't want it to be solely about eating Paleo. We wanted to have some breadth to be able to post about other things than strictly about food, cooking, diet, etc. I am so glad we did that, because as I was reflecting this morning, I was inspired to write an entry about wellness being about more than just food and exercise.

You see, I believe that wellness encompasses MANY things. I believe it includes how you feel mentally. This in itself includes many things. So, while  I have made diet changes so far this year, I have also made some other  rather big changes. One of these includes having the courage to explore other work options, do the research to see if it was a feasible and realistic change that would benefit our family overall. I got all the facts, and when an opportunity came up, I wasn't afraid to reach for it. I am happy to report that I GOT IT!

I interviewed this fall for a job in the school system where I live, which would cut a significant amount of commuting for me. This job is the same job that I had, EXCEPT it was Part-Time, which equals no benefits, and less money, and not year round pay.  AND it equals more time with the family, more time to prepare healthy meals, to exercise and to put focus on expanding my other businesses.

Yesterday, marked the last day at my full-time job that I had been at for 9 1/2 years. The hard part was leaving the amazing group of women FRIENDS that I worked with. We were an extremely cohesive group  who really worked as a team. We really are very much like a work family, rather than co-workers. I will also miss some of my amazing students and their families, some of whom I've worked with the last 9 1/2 years. These, I will miss, more than just a little.

Conversely, next week I begin at my new place of employment. I am excited and nervous, and I know it is what I needed in this stage of my life and career. I have all the regular worries: will they like me? will it be really different than what I have been doing? will I be able to catch on to how they do it quickly? But I also know that 9 years ago I knew nothing about working as an occupational therapist in a school system, and I figured it out. And I have been told that I haven't done half bad. So... I know I can do it again. My past experience tells me that, and I am oddly calm about the prospect, despite my history of anxiety about the unknown.

In addition, Last night my wonderful hubby and I had an amazing date night. We celebrated endings, new beginnings and his belated birthday. We had an amazing dinner at Texas de Brazil (and I did very well eating "legally" but I did divert a bit and had a wonderful glass of wine at dinner. I felt in this case it was worth it.) Most importantly, I didn't over indulge on food or wine, I just ENJOYED. FULLY!  To make it even more perfect, my hubby is so awesome he wanted to see the movie Les Miserables, and it was beyond fabulous! I highly recommend it! We came home and had a very highly coveted un-interrupted night's rest. This date was more than just a date. It was a breath of fresh air, a re-connection, a milestone in a journey of love and marriage, a blessing. All of those things are significant in my personal journey to wellness.

So, you see, wellness comes in many forms. For me it is eating these healthy foods, rearranging my work to be more aligned with my priorities, reconnecting with my husband and MYSELF. 

I challenge you to not only look at your diet in your journey to wellness, but the other things that profoundly affect you every day. What can you do to re-align your life to match your priorities where you are now? It is a question only you can answer after reflecting a bit. I'd love to hear some things you have done!

Have a fabulous day!

So Why Are You Waiting for a Diagnosis?

As I was sitting in this peaceful house yesterday, a conversation I had (last April) with my hubby popped back into my mind.  It was the night before my bloodwork and mammogram and tons of fears filled my head.  This mammogram was not the yearly checkup, but to examine lumps and swelling in my breast and under my arm.  I have a HUGE history of breast cancer in my family and had been avoiding this for some time due to fear.  Yes, I know, I should have been at the doctor at first sign, but I'm just being truthful and that is not how it happened (TRUST ME: My mother and sister will tear me up again as soon as they read this!!)  Thoughts of chemo, radiation, needles (yes, I'm scared of shots), and hospitals began to overcome me.  I remember sitting next to my hubby and telling him that if it was cancer, I could not do traditional treatment.  I expressed how I just did not feel that I could do that.  I am not as strong as my mom or sister and could not handle what they have!  I did not want to do the cut, drug, and burn!  I told him that I wanted alternative treatment to help my body fight the cancer itself.  I did not want to tear down the rest of my body to heal another part.  So I sat there watching my husband process and think about what I had just said.  I could see some fear and concern in his eyes and was not sure if he would agree to such a request.  So the next statement out of his mouth (even thought I didn't know it then) has been the most profound wake up call I have ever had.  Here it is, "SO WHY ARE YOU WAITING FOR A DIAGNOSIS?  START NOW!"  He understood my desire, but was scared to give me his "ok".  It is not like I was taking the opportunity to heal myself now.  It was not until the problem appeared that I wanted to "heal" myself.

So that was the beginning of my journey!  I really just needed someone to tell me the obvious!  Praise God, the mammogram and ultra sound reported no cancer, but was something that needs to be watched closely.  My bloodwork was totally wacked and the new diagnosis of "leaky gut" was causing me great problems.  So I started changing it around.  Time to heal my body naturally now, before cancer and disease had the opportunity to move in!  It was time to stop waiting until I was so sick that I could no longer turn things around. 

So here is my question for you, "What are you waiting for?"  Start now healing your body.  Do what works for you.  Fill your body with whole foods that help make you strong.  God created our bodies to care for and repair themselves!  It is up to us to fuel it with the right foods!  Happy Healing and Happy New Year!

REALLY GOOD REASONS TO AVOID SUGAR!!!

Okay, I borrowed this from another fantastic blog that Sherri and I follow called Autoimmune Paleo and You. You can click on the link to see it, but here are some reasons, and it is quite compelling.

Nancy Appleton author of Lick the Sugar Habit shows us how sugar can possibly ruin your health…

For more information click here!…..and find out more reasons!! 

Sugar may cause hyper- acidity & anxiety

Sugar can suppress your immune system

Sugar may difficulty concentrating and crankiness in children.

Sugar produces a significant rise in triglycerides.

Sugar can lead to cancer of the breast, ovaries, intestines, prostate or rectum.

Sugar interferes with absorption of calcium and magnesium.

Sugar can cause hypoglycemia.

Sugar can lead to an acidic digestive tract

Sugar causes food allergies.

Sugar can cause arthritis

Sugar increases the risk of Crohn’s Disease and ulcerate colitis.

Sugar can cause symptoms often found in people with gastric and duodenal ulcers.

Sugar can contribute to asthma.

Sugar can cause Candida albicans (yeast infection).

Sugar can contribute to gallstones.

Sugar can lead to heart disease.

Sugar can cause appendicitis.

Sugar can lead to multiple sclerosis.

Sugar can contribute to varicose veins.

Sugar can lead to periodontal disease.

Sugar can contribute to osteoporosis.

Sugar can cause food allergies.

Sugar can contribute to diabetes.

Sugar can cause toxemia during pregnancy.

Sugar can contribute to eczema in children.

Sugar can contribute to sagging skin by changing the structure of collagen.

Sugar can lead to cataracts.

Sugar can cause emphysema.

Sugar can cause atherosclerosis.

Tanya: HELLO 2013!

Wow! Another year has passed. Cameron is now 10, Anna is almost 3...where has the time gone? We all ask ourselves this every day I know. Literally, as my 10 year old son turns into a preteen before my very eyes and my daughter looks and acts more grown up every day, I realize (again) that this time is so precious and fleeting. I realize that going through the motions to make it through the days, getting them where they need to go, getting myself where I need to be, and to do what needs to be done for work, and getting food into everyone's belly, and cleaned and bathed and to bed every night on the minimal level are not enough. They deserve more. I DESERVE more. And I don't mean monetarily (although that would be nice if it didn't require much of an energy expenditure on my part!).

I am now on the 7th day of my Paleo journey. One week down, well, almost. Guess what? I feel great. Guess what else? It hasn't been that hard. The hardest part was resisting the urge to have a glass of red wine for New Year's Eve last night. But, I am too stubborn to give in. And I didn't. I WON over myself. Score one for Tanya!

As I chatted with my coach, Sherri, this morning and went over little things and big ones, I was inspired. I've had a lot of issues lately contributing to my brain fog & persistent fatigue, that have pushed me into the state of just making it through each day. I should say many most, of them were my "fault", including not taking my thyroid medicine consistently, eating whatever filled my belly (not just un-Paleo, but just plain UNHEALTHY), not exercising, not connecting, not unplugging, you name it and I could go on and on. But if you know me, you know I'm not a "beat yourself up" kinda gal. I am a "learn from your mistakes and change things" kinda gal. That is where I am.

So, am I happy about what could be looked upon as wasted time?  Not so much...but I am certainly not going to dwell on it. I do what I always do... I put on my big girl panties and I made a lot of big changes. Nothing will ever change if everything stays the same.

So, the last 2 weeks hubby and I have been off together. A blessing in disguise was that we had Christmas immediately after we got off for two weeks of vacation. While that lent itself to a very hectic pre-Christmas rush, it has allowed us time to reconnect, catch up with the house work, spend quality time with the kids, and me to re-center. My re-centering included jumping on the Paleo wagon and figuring out how to do it. I only have 24 more days until my trip to Vegas with hubby, and I know I can do it! That trip will be a real test :-)

So, I challenge you to TAKE BACK YOUR HEALTH! However that may be. I'd love for you to join Sherri and I. But however you do it, I wish you the best of luck. It is going to be a great year! Many blessings to you and yours!